Evaluation of Fetal Thyroid with 3D Gradient Echo T-weighted MR Imaging.

Purpose: The characteristics of fetal thyroid on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, including normal thyroid and disorders other than goiter have not been fully evaluated. Our aim was to assess fetal thyroid using three dimensional (3D) gradient echo (GRE) T-weighted MR imaging and to examine the usefulness of this modality.

Materials And Methods: The study included 27 3D GRE T-weighted images from 26 fetuses.

Outcome of self-expandable metallic stent deployment in patients with malignant gastroduodenal outlet obstruction and Niti-S and WallFlex comparison: a multicenter retrospective clinical study.

Objectives: Several studies report on the outcomes of self-expandable metallic stents (SEMSs) deployment for malignant gastric outlet obstruction (GOO). However, data was mostly based on the analysis of single-center studies including only a small number of patients. This study aimed to evaluate clinical outcomes after the deployment of SEMS in patients with malignant GOO and to compare the clinical outcomes of two metallic stents with different designs.

Nonexposure laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (closed laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery) for gastric submucosal tumor.

Laparoscopic and endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS) is increasingly applied for gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs) such as gastrointestinal stromal tumors. However, the conventional LECS procedure has the potential risk that gastric contents and even tumor cells could spread into the abdominal cavity because the gastric wall has to be opened during the resection. To avoid this problem, we have developed a modified LECS procedure named "closed LECS.

Fluorodeoxyglucose Uptake on Positron Emission Tomography Is a Useful Predictor of Long-Term Pain Control After Palliative Radiation Therapy in Patients With Painful Bone Metastases: Results of a Single-Institute Prospective Study.

Purpose: To determine whether fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) before and after palliative radiation therapy (RT) can predict long-term pain control in patients with painful bone metastases.

Methods And Materials: Thirty-one patients with bone metastases who received RT were prospectively included. Forty painful metastatic treatment fields were evaluated.

[A case of ruptured duodenal varices successfully treated by combination therapy with endoscopic clipping and balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration].

An 80-year-old woman with a history of chronic hepatitis B was referred to our hospital because of upper gastrointestinal bleeding of unknown origin. Dynamic computed tomography revealed liver cirrhosis and hepatofugal collateral vessels around the duodenum. Emergency esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed duodenal varices with an erosive spot, highly suggestive of a variceal rupture site.

Comparative study of ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT imaging and serum hTERT mRNA quantification in cancer diagnosis.

We have reported on the clinical usefulness of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA quantification in sera in patients with several cancers. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) using ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) has recently become an excellent modality for detecting cancer. We performed a diagnostic comparative study of FDG-PET/CT and hTERT mRNA quantification in patients with cancer.

Japanese nationwide surveillance in 2011 of antibacterial susceptibility patterns of clinical isolates from complicated urinary tract infection cases.

To investigate antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of various bacterial pathogens isolated from complicated urinary tract infection (UTI) cases, the Japanese Society of Chemotherapy, the Japanese Association of Infectious Disease, and the Japanese Society of Clinical Microbiology conducted the second nationwide surveillance from January to September 2011. With the cooperation of 42 medical institutions throughout Japan, 1036 strains belonging to 8 clinically relevant bacterial species were collected. Among methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain, the vancomycin (VCM) MIC for 5.

Diagnostic accuracy of magnification endoscopy with acetic acid enhancement and narrow-band imaging in gastric mucosal neoplasms.

Background And Study Aims: Magnification endoscopy with narrow-band imaging (NBIME) and NBIME with acetic acid enhancement (A-NBIME) visualize the capillary and microstructure patterns of the gastric mucosal surface, respectively. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy and interobserver agreement for white-light endoscopy (WLE), NBIME, and A-NBIME in the different histologic types of gastric mucosal neoplasm.

Patients And Methods: Consecutive gastric neoplasms (n = 220; 49 adenomas, 144 differentiated adenocarcinomas, and 27 undifferentiated adenocarcinomas) were photographed with WLE, NBIME, and A-NBIME.

Predictors of improved functional outcome in elderly inpatients after rehabilitation: a retrospective study.

Purpose: The number of elderly inpatients has been steadily increasing worldwide. However, the ability to predict the degree of improvement of functional capacity after comprehensive examination of elderly inpatients is still lacking. The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictors of improved functional outcome after rehabilitation of elderly inpatients.

MR imaging findings of mass-forming endosalpingiosis in both ovaries: a case report.

A 50-year-old postmenopausal woman, who underwent ultrasonography at a periodic medical checkup, was found to have bilateral ovarian masses. Pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed bilateral multilocular cystic ovarian masses. The cyst walls and septal structure demonstrated contrast enhancement.

Roles of alcohol consumption in fatty liver: a longitudinal study.

Background & Aims: Roles of alcohol consumption in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are still controversial, although several cross-sectional studies have suggested the beneficial effect of light to moderate drinking on fatty liver. We analyzed the longitudinal relationship between drinking pattern and fatty liver.

Methods: We included 5297 Japanese individuals (3773 men and 1524 women) who underwent a baseline study in 2003 and follow-up at least once from 2004 to 2006.

Early predictors of status epilepticus-associated mortality and morbidity in children.

Background: Early predictors of status epilepticus (SE)-associated mortality and morbidity have not been systematically studied in children, considerably impeding the identification of patients at risk.

Objectives: To determine reliable early predictors of SE-associated mortality and morbidity and identify the etiology of SE-associated sequelae in Japanese children.

Methods: We conducted a prospective multicenter study of clinical findings and initial laboratory data acquired at SE onset, and assessed outcomes at the last follow-up examination.

Magnification endoscopy with acetic acid enhancement and a narrow-band imaging system for pit pattern diagnosis of colorectal neoplasms.

Background And Goals: Pit pattern (PP) analysis of colorectal neoplasms using magnification chromoendoscopy with crystal violet (CV-MCE) is useful for predicting histologic features, but it is time consuming. Capillary pattern analysis by magnification endoscopy with narrow-band imaging (NBIME) is a useful and simpler procedure, but its diagnostic accuracy may be inferior to CV-MCE. NBIME with acetic acid enhancement (A-NBIME) is effective for rapid visualization of gastric mucosal microstructures.

[A case in which dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase deficiency was strongly suspected during adjuvant chemotherapy with capecitabine for colon cancer].

Severe toxicity in patients with a deficiency of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase(DPD), an enzyme that reduces fluoropyrimidine, is very rare, and reports on this condition are few. Accordingly, diagnosis is very difficult. The patient was 70-year-old man who was admitted for adjuvant chemotherapy with capecitabine(3,600mg/day)for rectal cancer.

[A case of primary adenocarcinoma of small intestine responding to XELOX chemotherapy and leading to a partial metabolic response].

We report a case of adenocarcinoma of the small intestine responding to XELOX chemotherapy, leading to a partial metabolic response(PMR). The patient was a 58-year-old male with multiple peritoneal dissemination of adenocarcinoma of the small intestine. Chemotherapy with XELOX(L-OHP 130 mg/m² on day 1 , and capecitabine 1,000 mg/m2 on days 1-14)was performed.

[A case of alcoholic hepatitis diagnosed by a liver biopsy and successfully treated by corticosteroid therapy].

A 50-year-old man with a history of alcohol intake exceeding 80 g/day was admitted because of severe liver dysfunction and high fever. A rapid increase of transaminase with remittent high fever was observed several days after admission. Abdominal CT scan demonstrated a 22×20 mm mass in segment 8, highly suggestive of hepatocellular carcinoma.

[A case of resected rectal cancer with hepatic node and multiple liver metastases effectively treated by preoperative modified FOLFOX6 and sLV5FU2 chemotherapy].

A 55-year-old male had complained of melena.Colonoscopy revealed a type 2 tumor at the rectum.CT demonstrated hepatic lymph nodes and multiple liver metastases(stage IV).

[A retrospective study on perioperative bleeding in patients for hip fracture surgery in patients treated with or without antiplatelet/anticoagulating drugs].

Background: Early operation for hip fracture patients is considered to have better outcome. Therefore, early operation was performed even if patients had been treated with antiplatelet and/or anticoagulating drugs (AP/AC) in our hospital for the past two years. This retrospective study was undertaken as excessive blood loss is expected in patients treated with AP/AC.

[A case of early poorly-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma of stomach].

A 45-year-old male was admitted to our hospital complaining of anemia. Gastric endoscopy showed a type IIa+IIc tumor at the anterior wall of the gastric angle. Based on the pathology of the biopsy specimen, poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma was diagnosed.

[A case of gastric cancer with peritoneal dissemination who achieved long survival by successive treatments with S-1 in combination with CDDP, paclitaxel and irinotecan].

The patient was a 63-year-old male with multiple peritoneal disseminations of advanced gastric cancer. He underwent chemotherapy with a combination of S-1 120 mg/day (3 weeks administration and 2 weeks rest) and cisplatin (CDDP) 60 mg/m(2) (day 8). After 3 courses of this regimen, CT revealed no evidence of ascites.

[A case of stage IV AFP producing cecal cancer responding to mFOLFOX6 leading to a partial response].

We report a case of stage IV AFP producing cecal cancer responding to mFOLFOX6 leading to a partial response. The patient was a 72-year-old female with multiple liver metastases of cecal cancer. She underwent a right hemicolectomy and right salpingo-oophorectomy in a non-curative resection.